Sound Ideas (Jazz & Blues)

Series produced by Clay Ryder

Series image

Sound Ideas explores the artistry of jazz, blues, and the spoken word. Hosted by Clay Ryder, each episode explores a different theme or genre of the jazz idiom through recorded performances pulled from more than eighty years of recorded art. The music is the focus. It is complemented by a few minutes of intelligent commentary to set the context and make the music understandable and personal for both the jazz aficionado and those who listen on the jazz periphery.

Each episode can air as a stand-alone or run in a series.

What is Sound Ideas?
More than just a jazz show, each episode presents some great story telling by jazz and blues musicians and spoken word artists. By exploring the many different genres within the Jazz idiom, the show appeals both to the jazz aficionado and those who listen on the jazz periphery. In both cases, listeners enjoy exposure to a broad cross-section of this creative art without the limitations of stylistic labels. Spoken word features reflect jazz sensitivities or the life of the jazz musician and offer a unique twist on the many colors and hues painted with a brush called jazz.

One aspect of Jazz that distinguishes the art form is its ability to engage the listener on different levels (intellectual, emotional, spiritual, etc.) simultaneously. Jazz is a musical oxymoron. Jazz is a classical music, a high art form that demands much from its performers and at times from its audience; yet jazz is as down home as fried chicken, baked beans, cornbread, and your favorite glass or beer or soda.

Jazz comes from toil in the fields reassured by the gospel on Sunday morning. Jazz oozes out from under the door frame at the late night rent party. Jazz emanates from a student practicing with his or her Jamey Aebersold play-along records. Jazz is created at the university in an advanced composition class. Jazz is created by tales spun by the stand-up comic. Jazz is about learning; it's about life experience.

Listening to jazz on the melodic level reveals one experience, listening on the harmonic, another. Listening to the stories that are embedded in the melodic and harmonic levels takes the listener to another plane of communication.

Jazz is a language, and as with all languages, if one doesn't know the vocabulary and the grammar, there isn't much to gain from the interaction. With practice, however, picking up a language enables communication; and with time, the subtle nuances, the play on words (or notes), and inclusion in the greater discussion can lead to a rich and very satisfying experience. Sound Ideas seeks to engage the listener and broaden his or her musical horizons.

When should Sound Ideas be aired?
While this program would fit well within any jazz formatted day part, its intention is to engage the listener and offer a path for musical exploration and deep understanding. It works equally well as a stand-alone program within a block format or as a lead-in to locally programmed music.

What is the format?
Sound Ideas is just under an hour. It features a cold opening so it can easily transition from top of the hour news segments or from other programming. It is self-contained without local cutaways; however, there is ample space for local promotions or other transitions at the beginning and end of the show.

What’s the show’s vibe? How does it sound?
Sound Ideas is conversational and informative with a laid-back vibe. While the performances are the focus of the program, details about musicians and where to find the music are key components of the programming. Each episode has a playlist plus additional information about its theme available on the jazzstreams.org web site.

What is the cost?
Sound Ideas is free of charge. Customized promotions for stations are available for a nominal fee.

Does the series have to run in order?
No. Each episode can stand alone or run in a series. Since each program is thematic, you may run them in any order at any pace you choose (limited only by the number of available shows). An obvious exception would be holiday-themed shows, which would make sense to run during the holiday season in question.

Does the show have its own web site?
Yes. Additional information about each episode and its theme is available at http://jazzstreams.org/soundideas Hide full description

What is Sound Ideas?More than just a jazz show, each episode presents some great story telling by jazz and blues musicians and spoken word artists. By exploring the many different genres within the Jazz idiom, the show appeals both to the jazz aficionado and those who listen on the jazz periphery. In both cases, listeners enjoy exposure to a broad cross-section of this creative art without the limitations of stylistic labels. Spoken word features reflect jazz sensitivities or the life of the jazz musician and offer a unique twist on the many colors and hues painted with a brush called jazz.One aspect of Jazz that distinguishes the art form is its ability to engage the listener on different levels (intellectual, emotional, spiritual, etc.) simultaneously. Jazz is a musical oxymoron. Jazz... Show full description


508 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
Over the past three decades plus it could be argued that one man played an outsized role in bringing the Hammond B3 organ back into the jazz fold. ...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, WETF, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., Delmarva Public Media, KHNS and more


  • Added: Aug 27, 2022
  • Length: 57:36
  • Purchases: 12
Piece image
In this hour, we will explore a few recordings where the pianist was not only the accompanist, but also the band leader and even at times the compo...

Bought by KHNS, WETF, KJZX-Austin, GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX and more


  • Added: Sep 03, 2022
  • Length: 57:27
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
Railroads played an indispensable role in the westward expansion of North America during the 19th and 20th centuries. So, it should be of no surpri...

Bought by KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., Delmarva Public Media, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin and more


  • Added: Aug 21, 2022
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 10
Piece image
The jazz experience encompasses many genres. Some are tied to a specific era while others tend to be timeless, always fresh on delivery no matter t...

Bought by Delmarva Public Media, WETF, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin and more


  • Added: Aug 13, 2022
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
The trombone while not an unusual instrument in the jazz idiom is not as commonly found as its other brass brethren. Granted, it's often found in l...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, WETF, Delmarva Public Media, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: Aug 07, 2022
  • Length: 57:51
  • Purchases: 10
Piece image
With the change of the season often comes a change in the mood. After a hard day's work, the evening represents a change to relax a bit and contemp...

Bought by Delmarva Public Media, KHNS, KJZX-Austin, WMOT, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: Jul 31, 2022
  • Length: 57:25
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
In this hour, we will explore the music of Bill Holman, one whose playing on the tenor sax is impressive enough yet pales compared with his achieve...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, RADIOLEX, WETF, Delmarva Public Media, WMOT and more


  • Added: Jul 25, 2022
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
The instruments found in most jazz scenarios are generally trumpets, trombones, saxes, and a rhythm section of piano or guitar, bass, and drums. Bu...

Bought by RadioStPete Florida, RADIOLEX, WETF, WMOT, KHNS and more


  • Added: Jul 17, 2022
  • Length: 57:20
  • Purchases: 10
Piece image
Jazz is often thought of as a musical as opposed to lyrical endeavor, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, jazz and its ancestral ...

Bought by RADIOLEX, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio), KJZX-Austin, WETF and more


  • Added: Jul 09, 2022
  • Length: 57:11
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
Water is the essence of life, and jazz is a blessed solvent, but as of this recording, water and oppressive heat have been prevalent in the southwe...

Bought by RADIOLEX, WETF, Delmarva Public Media, KJZX-Austin, KHNS and more


  • Added: Jun 25, 2022
  • Length: 57:11
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
The canvas on which jazz is painted is broad and with an almost endless choice of pencils, paints, and colors. Regardless of the hue and texture of...

Bought by Delmarva Public Media, RADIOLEX, WMOT, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: Jun 18, 2022
  • Length: 57:43
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
Once a year we set aside a special day to honor our paternal heritage. In this hour we will continue our exploration of songs and melodies focused ...

Bought by WETF, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, and KRPS


  • Added: Jun 10, 2022
  • Length: 57:46
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
Once a year we set aside a special day to honor our paternal heritage. In this hour we will listen to songs and melodies focused on dads, from a va...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX, WETF, KJZX-Austin, KHNS and more


  • Added: Jun 05, 2022
  • Length: 57:53
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
As the calendar advances upon the month of June, we begin our slide into the summer season. In this hour, we will explore the passage from school y...

Bought by WNMU-FM, KJZX-Austin, WMOT, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: May 29, 2022
  • Length: 57:53
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
As the season nears its change, in the Northern Hemisphere we await the transition to summer. That is, unless of course, you find yourself in the s...

Bought by RADIOLEX, WMOT, KJZX-Austin, WETF, KHNS and more


  • Added: May 22, 2022
  • Length: 57:50
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
It's been a long time since we've checked in with our musical ancestors. At times, it is hard to say where the blues ends, and jazz begins; perhaps...

Bought by Delmarva Public Media, KJZX-Austin, WMOT, KHNS, GCR (Global Community Radio) and more


  • Added: May 15, 2022
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
In this hour, we will continue exploring some tunes that brought me comfort and joy over the past years, if not decades.

Bought by WNMU-FM, KJZX-Austin, WMOT, WETF, KHNS and more


  • Added: May 07, 2022
  • Length: 57:53
  • Purchases: 7
Piece image
Art Blakey has been attributed with stating that Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life. In other words, jazz can provide a figurative cleansin...

Bought by WNMU-FM, RadioStPete Florida, WMOT, KJZX-Austin, KHNS and more


  • Added: May 01, 2022
  • Length: 57:46
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
In this hour, we continue exploring some of the new releases from the first quarter of 2022

Bought by KJZX-Austin, GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX, WMOT, WETF and more


  • Added: Apr 24, 2022
  • Length: 57:41
  • Purchases: 8
Piece image
In this hour we will explore some of the new releases from the first quarter of 2022

Bought by KHNS, KJZX-Austin, GCR (Global Community Radio), RADIOLEX, WMOT and more


  • Added: Apr 16, 2022
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 8